I think the Executive is a great choice. Also there was a recent thread about the Ambassador maybe have a look at that.
Hello! If you don't mind buying second-hand, I highly recommend the Vagabond. It's out of production which is why you have to find them used.My second recommendation would be a MiniChamp.....love them, but they do have a couple of tools that I don't use as often.I know others will chime in and I look forward to reading their opinions.One of my Vagabonds. I put different scales on it:(Image removed from quote.)
I would go with the MiniChamp...the only reason it is not on me is because I am doing the Huntsman Challenge. I have only had it a short time but it gets or was carried everyday. I went with the Alox version because it came with the Alox Farmer at a great price. Think I got them both for $60.00 brand new in the boxes. As FB has stated that there are a couple of tools that don’t get used as often...they will be there when you need them! Either way have fun selecting your next one.
I am a big fan of both the MiniChamp and the Executive.The Minichamp is an amazing little knife. Both blades will take a shaving sharp edge and are big enough to cut open cardboard boxes or to cut the flaps off of boxes. They are also good for opening envelopes. If you get a small pocket steel, you can keep the edges sharp by touching them up regularly. The pocket steel just realligns the edges without removing any metal.The nail file comes in handy and the tip of it can also be used on phillips screws that are too big for the smaller magnetized phillips screwdriver on the bottle opener tip. The small magnetized phillips screwdriver is great for removing the small phillips screws on doors to battery compartments on handheld electronic devices.The cut and picker blade (also called the orange peeler) will cut open clamshell packaging very easily, and also peel oranges. Just hook the point on the under side of the tip in the plastic and pull the peeler toward you and it will zip right throught the plastic. The scissors are great for cutting out coupons or clipping loose threads on clothing. The cuticle pusher also serves as a screwdriver, or can be opened to extend the handle when you are using either of the knife blades, scissors, or the orange peeler.There is also a small ruler with w screwdriver tip on it.The Minichamp is so small you don't even know you are carrying it, but it is there when you need it.If you want slightly larger scissors the Executive scissors are great. The new nail file on the Executive is more aggressive than the old style file. The orange peeler can also be used on clamshell packages.Both blades will zip through cardboard and handle most light cutting tasks. If you carry a small pocket steel and use it when ever the blade starts to get dull, you can keep them sharp without removing any metal from the blade.I always have a Swiss Champ, a Mini Champ, and an Executive on me, but lately I have been using the Executive 90% of the time. I keep it in my watch pocket on my jeans.
I really like the tool density on the MiniChamp. I feel the same way about the tools that won't get used as often. I'd rather have them and not need them, then need them and not have them. Especially if they don't add any real noticeable weight/size to the tool kit. Thanks Rapidray!
Quote from: Kraken on November 08, 2018, 03:28:06 PMI really like the tool density on the MiniChamp. I feel the same way about the tools that won't get used as often. I'd rather have them and not need them, then need them and not have them. Especially if they don't add any real noticeable weight/size to the tool kit. Thanks Rapidray!That got me wondering, so here are the weights according to my postal scale:Vagabond 1.3 oz. or 34 gramsMiniChamp 1.6 oz. or 44 gramsIf you go with a MiniChamp, I would recommend the current one, the MiniChamp II, although it's not referred to as that "II" very often. I say this because the newest has 8 tools which includes the cut and pluck tool, one of my favorites for opening plastic clam shell protected products, the older (original) lacks this therefore has a tool count of 7.Also, there's a Midnite MiniChamp, has a white LED and is 1.7 ounces. You push the shield and it lights up, this also has a slide in/out pen. It lacks toothpick and tweezers though.
Why do I have the sneaky suspicion that if I do get a MC, I'll have to get another one to replace the Rambler on my key chain?
....and off I go to look at PTCs! Maybe I need to get a MiniChamp and a Pocket Tool Chest and do a head-to-head field test for a week or two, then post my results? Enablers, the lot of you. This site is the reason I got a gently used SwissChamp and then purchased two more in the space of a week and a half. I really should limit my time on here....
The Rambler and the Minichamp are great choices. The Executive is a good choice also but it depends on your usage. I don't use my executive that much for EDC as I've found that I often need to work on some screws, which the rambler and minichamp are better suited for, as opposed to the executive with its little flathead at the end of the orange peeler. It's quite a long tool and I don't feel comfortable torquing screws with it as much as I do with the combo tool on the rambler or an SD nail file. Although I gotta give it to the Executive, the nail file and the scissors on it really get the job done. Also having a longer blade in a SAK this size is great if you happen to cut food every once in a while, as you can save the small pen blade for "dirtier" cutting tasks such as opening packages, and keep the longer blade for cutting food.
Here is the Wenger PTC added to the mix.Wenger is shown with MC. The MC is a tad wider but the addition of a pen is a huge plus to me. The PTC is noticeable longer and thats a good thing IMO. I like that the PTC only has one blade and AWL. The long thin flat driver works on small Philips BUT the magnetic phillips is a huge plus to me. That beefy bottle opener/flat driver is super neat. I dont open bottle but the tools is a small pry tool for me. Plus is a great flat driver. The extra tools on the MC are nice but like most people I don't use them all that often. The "coke" spoon works on a variety of tasks. Additional blades means you always have a sharp one on deck.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown VICMAN! Sometimes it's hard to see uses for some of the tools, especially if you've never handled one before. I was like that with the SwissChamp and the fish scaler. Once I got my hands on one though, I use the fish scaler a lot more often than I would've thought. And the MC has such a high tool density count in such a small package that really appeals to me.
When I got my PTC I was in the market for a Minichamp but I used the money I had to buy a lot of SAK's that had several SAK's I really wanted. In that lot was my first PTC. I figured it would hold me over till I could afford a MC. Almost 5 years later I still plan on getting a MC but there's no rush because I accidentally bought a more useful model.Trust me get the PTC first. They're less common the the MC and although still easy to find they're getting harder to find every day.
Quote from: Kraken on November 08, 2018, 05:15:43 PM....and off I go to look at PTCs! Maybe I need to get a MiniChamp and a Pocket Tool Chest and do a head-to-head field test for a week or two, then post my results? Enablers, the lot of you. This site is the reason I got a gently used SwissChamp and then purchased two more in the space of a week and a half. I really should limit my time on here.... Might as well face the fact that SAKS are addictive!
Here they areL ro R1st pic.Midnite MC ( red led ) get white led if you go this route. MCOriginal MC ( 7 tools )Manager. 2nd pic is all tools except PEN and led displayed. The Original MC didn't have a pen. 3rd pic just the MC, Original MC and PTC with tools displayed.
I've only had a PTC for a few days but I'm totally diggin' it. Packs so much functionality into such a small space. Love the awl. Used it last night to unplug a cigar, it was the perfect tool for the task.